National Union of Workers

Former Australian trade union from 1989 to 2019

This article is about the Australian union. For the Guinea-Bissau union, see National Union of Workers of Guinea-Bissau. For the Sri Lanka union, see National Union of Workers (Sri Lanka). For the Naval Air Station assigned IATA code NUW, see Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.

National Union of Workers

National Union of Workers

Merged into| United Workers Union
Founded| 1989
Dissolved| 2019
Headquarters| Melbourne, Victoria
Location|

* Australia

Members

| 66,247 (as at 30 June 2019)[1]

Key people

| Tim Kennedy, National Secretary
Affiliations| ACTU, IUF, ALP (excluding NSW branch)
Website| www.nuw.org.au

The National Union of Workers was an Australian trade union from 1989 to 2019. The union covered workers in various industries and was one of the most powerful unions in the Australian Labor Party and its national Labor Right faction. In 2019, it merged with United Voice to form the United Workers Union.

## History

[edit]

The National Union of Workers of Australia was formed by a progressive amalgamation of unions from 1989 onwards in a time when all Australian unions were merging, with varying degrees of success. These unions merged into the one larger union to pool their expertise and resources, so they could provide members with a larger range of quality services.

The six unions which form the National Union of Workers were established in the early part of last century and have been at the forefront of workers' achievements for nearly 100 years:

* Federated Storemen and Packers Union (Est. 1912)
* Federated Rubber and Allied Workers Union (Est. 1908)
* Federated Cold Storage and Meat Preserving Employees' Union (Est. 1908)
* Federated Millers and Manufacturing Grocers Union (Est. 1909)
* Commonwealth Foremen's Association (Est. 1912)
* United Sales Representatives and Commercial Travellers Guild (Est. 1888)

In 2018 it was announced the National Union of Workers was in the process of merging with another union, United Voice.[2] In June 2019, the Fair Work Commission approved a vote on the proposed merger between the two unions which will be held in August.[3] On 30 August 2019 the Australian Electoral Commission declared the result of the vote, with just over 95% of members supporting the amalgamation.[4] The name of the new union was the United Workers Union. As a result of the amalgamation, the National Union of Workers will be deregistered as part of the merger and its members folded into the larger United Voice.[5] On 11 November 2019, the new United Workers Union was formed.

## Coverage

[edit]

National Union of Workers workers protest Howard's industrial relations reforms in a 2005 rally in Sydney

The National Union of Workers covered workers in the following industries:

* Warehousing and distribution
* Food manufacturing
* Rubber, plastic and cable-making
* Dairy
* Cold storage
* Poultry, fish and game processing
* Skin and hide
* Wool
* Oil
* Pet food
* Pharmaceutical manufacturing
* Milling
* Market research
* Merchandising and sales representatives

## Politics

[edit]

The National Union of Workers was one of the most powerful unions in the Australian Labor Party and its national Labor Right faction.[6] It was generally a member along with other right-wing unions of the various state Labor Right factions that make up the national Labor Right faction.[7] However it made up its own Labor Right faction in Victoria called Labor Action and in Queensland called Labor Unity (also known as the Old Guard).[8][9] The National Union of Workers has also funded and supported the left-wing party, the Victorian Socialists.[10]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Annual Financial Report for the year ended 30 June 2019" (PDF). United Workers Union. National Union of Workers. Retrieved 23 November 2019.
2. ^ Patty, Anna (16 October 2018). "Second major union merger proposed for next year". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
3. ^ "'Mega Union' tipped with United Voice close to merger with National Union of Workers". thesector.com.au. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
4. ^ "Members vote in favour of United Workers Union". United Voice Australia. 30 August 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
5. ^ Marin-Guzman, David (30 August 2019). "Workers vote to create new mega union". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
6. ^ "New Victorian super-faction boosts Bill Shorten's influence on Labor party machine". 22 April 2015.
7. ^ "What is the factional breakdown at Labor Conferences?". 2 September 2014.
8. ^ "New Victorian super-faction boosts Bill Shorten's influence on Labor party machine". 22 April 2015.
9. ^ "Understanding the Labor Factions". 5 March 2013.
10. ^ "Unions back Victorian Socialists' campaign". The Australian.

## External links

[edit]

* Organized labour portal

* Official website